Polk County Spring Update

Polk County Spring Update

We started off the New Year with a wonderful challenge, judging 41 essays from our Constitutional Essay contest! High school students from Polk, Marion and Benton Counties participated. Each entry received a $5 Dutch Bros. card and a pocket Constitution. A bonus $10 Dutch Bros. card was given if students submitted a creative meme. Four students took on the extra credit challenge. You can see their meme’s on the Polk OWA Facebook page. 1st place ($250) was awarded to Collin Penner from McNary High School, 2nd place ($100) was Natalia Schilling from Dallas High School and 3rd place ($50) was Lily Rogowski from Corvallis High School. Plans are already underway for our next contest that will start shortly after school begins in September.

In February we made plans to help with the Mid-Valley Winter AgFest that took place at the Polk county fairgrounds on February 24th and 25th. We also held a matinee showing of “Food Evolution at the Polk county fairgrounds on February 23rd. We didn’t have as many folks participate in the showing as we had hoped. If we do this again we think a night showing might be better attended. We also helped with the Hearts and Wine FFA Alumni fundraiser held at Eola Hills Winery in Rickreall. We sold tickets and provided appetizers for the event. Over $7,000 was raised for the FFA scholarship fund.

Ali Salzer, with RARE AmeriCorps, Polk County Tourism Alliance came and spoke to our group in March regarding Ag tourism opportunities in Polk County. She invited us to attend monthly meetings regarding organizing a farm loop in the county of local businesses.

Polk county OWA members plan to help gather auction items for the OWA Annual auction and will also help out with Ag Fest in April. Our slate of officers will remain the same as last year. President- Diann Washburn, Vice President- Deb Thomas, Secretary – Mallory Lucas, Corresponding Secretary – Lindsey Myers, and Treasurer Tiffany Marx.

We meet on the second Monday of each month at 11:30 AM at the Eola Inn, Rock n Rogers Restaurant in west Salem. All are welcome to join us for lunch or just come for the meeting!